Target apparatus.



No. 679,325. Patented July 30, I901. J. L. MCCULLOUGH.

TARGET APPARATUS;

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1900.)

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No. 679,325. Patented July 30; NHL J. L. MOCULLUUGH. TARGET APPARATUS.(Application filed Mar. 15, 1900.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 679,325. Patented July 30, I908. J; L. MBCULLUUGH.

TARGET APPARATUS.

(Application filed Mar. 15 1900. (No Model.)

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Patented July 30, I90I.

J. L. MOCULLUUGH. TARGET APPARATUS. (Application filed Mar. 15 1900.

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(No Model.)

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No. 679,325. Patented July 30, I90].

J. L. McCULLOUGH. TARGET APPARATUS. v (No Model.) (Application filed 15,1900.) 5 Sheets-sheet 5 WITNESSES: INVENTOR mm w. @m w w wz m: NONRISpevzas co, morm mwn wumNo'rcu. o c:

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JOHN L. MOCULLOUGH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATICTARGET MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

TARGET APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,325, dated July 30,1901. Application filed March 15, 1900. Serial No. 8,713- (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN' L. MCCULLOUGH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings andcity and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Target Apparatuses, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the class of target devices or apparatuseswherein the spot aimed at by the marksman is indicated electrically andwherein a gun or something which simulates a gun or firearm is employed,but no explosive or projectile is used. A target apparatus belonging tothis general class is described and claimed in the United States PatentNo. 561,124, granted to me June 2, 1896.

The novel features of the present invention reside partly in the gun andits mountings, partly in the means for completing the circuit when thetrigger is pulled, partly in the target, and partly in other details ofconstruction which will be hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a generalview of the apparatus, drawn to a small scale. Fig. 2 is a sectionalelevation of the gun-stand, the casing thereof being in section and theinterior mechanism in elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan of the casing of thegun-stand, the stem carrying the gun being in horizontal section. Fig. 4is a vertical axial section of the gun and its mountings, on a largerscale than Fig. 2; and Figs. 4 and 4 are details thereof, which will behereinafter described. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the gun-mountingsas seen from the right in Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a plan of the contact plateor disk; and Fig. 7 is a diametrical section of the same, taken at linem in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 shows the contact pencil or point detached. Figs. 9,l0, and 11 are detail views of the controlling device, which will befully described hereinafter. Fig. 12 is a rear View, Fig. 13 a frontView, and Fig. 14 a sectional view at line a in Fig. 12, showing thetarget; and Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view illustrating a slightmodification of the same.

Referring to the general view, Fig. 1, S represents the gun-stand as aWhole; G, the gun;

s, the target-stand, and T the target mountjed thereon. This view showsthe general arrangement on a small scale.

Referring now to the detail views, Figs. 2 to 8, l is the casing of thegun-stand, and 2 is a guide-frame fixed inside of same. WVithin theguide-frame 2 is a slide or slide-frame 3, which carries the gun G andwhich is capable of being moved up and down for elevating the gun bodilyto adapt it to the height of the marksman. In order that the gun when solifted or elevated may always be di rected at the target, theslide-frame 3 is' slotted, as seen at 3 in Fig. 2, the slot or slotshaving a curvature drawn from a center at the target, and guide pins orbolts 2 in the frame 2 pass through these slots. The weight of the frame3 and the parts carried thereby is counterbalanced by a weight 4, asseen in Fig. 2. This weight is suspended from a cord 4!.

The gun B is fixed on a hollow stem 5,which plays through an aperture 6in the top of the casing 1, being embraced loosely by a collar 7 ,whichslides on the top of the casing; This stem 5 has a ball 8, Fig. 4, whichoccupies a socket in the slide 3, so that the gun may be rocked inaiming it. At its lower end the stem 5 has a cup 5, which embraces theupper rounded end of an auxiliary tubular stem 9, which has a ball 10,with a bearing in a block 11, mounted to slide laterally or in onedirection in bearings in the sliding frame 3. On the lower end of thestem 9 is a compressible coil-spring 12,whicl1 carries at its lower enda contact point orpencil 13, which has a laterally-flexible stem 13 thatmay be conveniently formed of a closely-Wound coil of wire havingelectrical connection with the contact-point. The contact-point isadapted to play over and above or out of normal contact with acontact-plate 14. (Seen in detail in Figs. 6 and 7.) This plate is, ingeneral, a counterpart of the target, to be hereinafter described, andit comprises a series of contact-segments a, a bulls-eye contact-diskZ2, and insulating material 0, which separates and insulates the severalparts a and Z).

The gun G may be lifted vertically or nearly so, the contact elementsmoving with it. This is merely to adapt the gun to marksmen of differentheights. In aiming it has three pos sible movementsnan1ely, first, arocking movement to raise or lower the muzzle in a vertical plane, thismovement rocking the stem 5 at the ball 8, and it, acting on the stem 9,rocks the latter on the ball 10, thus causing the point 13 to traversethe disk 14; second, a rocking or swinging movement laterally orsidewise about the ball 8, this movement also acting to rock the stem 9and cause the point 13 to traverse the plate 14, and, third, ahorizontal turning movement about the axis of the stem 5, which causesthe muzzle to sweep or play in a horizontal plane. This movement wouldnot act on the point 13 but for an auxiliary device,which'will now bedescribed.

--An arm 15 extends out from the ball 8 and engages a verticalslot 16 inthe upper arm of a lever 17, fulcrnmed at 18 on the frame 3. The lowerarm of the lever 17 is bent so as to extend inward and has aforkedextremity 17, which extends about the stem 9, above the ball 10, thisfork being fitted in a keepergroove in the block 11. Now when the gun isrocked so as to move the muzzle up and down the arm 15 (which may have aball at its hearing) plays up and down in the slot 16; but when the gunis turned about the axis of the stem 5 from side to'side the lower orforked end of the lever 17 as the latter moves about block carrying withit the stem 9,which then finds a fulcrum above the cup 5 This swing ofthe stem 9 causes the point 13 to traverse the contact-plate 14. Fig. 4is a face view of the lever 17 as seen from the left in Fig. 4, and Fig.4 is a plan view of the sliding block 11 and the forked end of the lever17,engaged therewith.

Referring to Fig. 4, the hammer 19 of the gun is adapted to be cooked byaspring 2O whenever the hammer is freed so that the spring 20 can act,and when cocked the hammer is held so by a trigger-spring 21, acting onthe trigger 22. The hammer is caused to strike, when the trigger ispulled, by a spring 23, and this spring holds the hammer normally. Thisis effected through the medium of a flexible connector 24, which isattached at its upper end to the hammer, passes thence through thehollow of the gun over a guide sheave or pulley 25, thence down throughthe hollow of the stem 5 to another guide-sheave 26, and thence outthrough a slot'in the stem to the periphery of a sheave 27, to which itis secured. This sheave is fixed on a rockshaft 28 in the frame 3 andhas an arm 28, between which and the frame 3 is the spring 23, whichacts on the hammer. From the arm 28 a cord or connector 29 extends overa guide-sheave 30 into the stem 5,down through said stem, the stem 9,and the spring 12 to the block 13, which carries the point 13. Now withthe construction above described when the spring 23 is in actionnormally the hammer will be drawn up against the-seat 9 on the gun andthe point 13 will rest and bear on the plate 14 but if the shaft 28 berocked in the direction of the arrow 2 thereat in Fig. 4 the connector24 will be slackened,the spring 20 will cock the hammer 19, and theconnector 29 will compress the spring 12 and lift the point 13 out ofcontact with the plate 14. This is the position of the parts seen inFig. 4.

The shaft 28 may be rocked through mechanism that will now be describedand which is controlled and made operative through the medium of aninserted operating-piece. For the better understanding of this devicereference should be had especially to Figs. 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, and 11. Thelast three figures are respectively a side View of the controllingdevice, as seen from the right in Fig. 5, a bottom view of said device,and a side view similar to Fig. 9, but with the outer disk 31 removedand showing the mechanism in operation. These three views are on alarger scale than the principal views. This controlling device ismounted on the main frame 2 and comprises a rock-shaft 32, carrying thedisk 31, which latter carries a bevel-wheel 33, which gears with abevel-wheel 34, fixed on an upright shaft 35, on which is splined abeveled wheel 36, in gear with a bevel-wheel 37, fixed on the shaft 28.Thus a rotative movement of the disk 31 imparts a rotative movement tothe shaft 28, and the splining of the shaft 35 keeps the wheels 36 and37 in gear when the frame 3 is raised and lowered.

On the shaft 32, adjacent to the disk 31, is rotatively mounted adriving-disk 38. This disk has a driving-lug 39, which may enter a chute40 and drive down an operating-piece 0 when said disk 38 is rocked. Tothe disk 38 is coupled a rod 41, which extends up, Fig. 2, and iscoupled to a crank 42 on the inner end of a short rock-shaft 43, whichis mounted in the casing 1 and extends through the same, being providedat its outer end, Fig. 3, with an operating-crank 44. stated here thatthe chute 40 can extend up to the top of the casing, Fig. 3, and a slit45 be provided in the latter for the insertion of the operating-piece. Aspring 46 holds the disk 38 in the normal position seen in Fig. 9, andif no operating-piece be inserted the crank 44 may be actuated withoutin any way affecting the gun or mechanism other than rocking the disk38; but under the lower end of the chute there is a support 47, whichhas a frictional slotted hearing at 48 on the frame, and a lug 49, whichenters a recess in the edge of the disk 38 and is normally held up tosaid chute, as in Fig. 9, by a shoulder 50 at the extremity of saidrecess bearing on said lug 49. When an interposing operatingpiece 0 isinserted, it takes the position seen in Fig. 9. Now if the disk 38 berocked the interposed piece will be driven down out of said chute by thelug 39, depressing the support 47 through the medium of the interposedpiece to the position seen in Fig. 11. The shoulder 51 at the other endof the recess in It may be the disk 38 now takes against a stop-pin 52on the frame and limits the further movement of the disk in thatdirection. When the crank 44 is released, the spring 46 retracts thedriving-disk, the first part ofv the movement freeing the piece 0, sothat it may drop into the casing l or into a locked drawer 53 therein,(seen in Fig. 2,) and the second part of the movement returning thesupport 47 to its first position through the shoulder 50, impinging onthe lug 49.

In order that the movement of the support 47 may be transmitted to thedisk 31, the lug 49 is made to extend out laterally far enough to engagea shoulder 54 on the said disk, as seen in Fig. 9, so that the movementof the part 47 carries the disk 31 with it. The spring 23 retracts thedisk 31 or moves it back to the position seen in Fig. 9.

The above-described mechanism, comprising the disks, the support 47, andthe interposing piece 0, through which motion is transmitted to thesupport from the disk 38, forms no part of the present invention and isnot specifically claimed herein, nor is the present invention limitedthereto. If it be desired to use a controlling means adapted to count orregister the number of shots, there are many ways to effect this.

The target T and the electrical connections will now be explained withespecial reference to Figs. 1, 5, 12, 13, 14, and 15, the last fourfigures illustrating the target in detail.

The target comprises a suitable frame or box 55, here shown as octagonalin vertical cross-section, and provided on its front end with threetarget-plates 56, 57, and 58, fixed in position, overlapping, and indiiferent planes. The outer plate 56 constitutes the bulls-eye, thenext, 57, is a ring and constitutes the inner circle, and the next, 58,fixed to the frame 55, constitutes the outer circle. The two latter aresupposed to be each divided into four quadrants, thus corresponding tothe eight segments a of the contactplate 14. The bulls-eye 56corresponds to the central part or disk I) of said plate. There is anelectric bell 59 at the target, which belongs to the bulls-eye, and eachof the quadrants of the circles 57 and 58 has connected with it anelectromagnet and indicating device. As these latter are all alike, adescription of one will suffice. An electromagnet 60 is mounted in theframe 55 at the proper point and provided in the usual Way with anarmature-lever 61, carrying an armature and having an ordinaryarmature-spring. These are all of the usual kind, except that thearmature-lever extends out to the front of the target and has anoutwardly-extending arm carrying an indicator-marker 62, which isnormall; out of sight under the overlapping plate, as indicated indotted lines in Fig. 13. When the circuit is closed through the mag netand its armature is attracted, the marker 62 is protruded outwardly intoView. One of these markers so protruded is seen in Fig. 13.

terminating at the point or pencil 13.

The specific construction of the target has been illustrated anddescribed herein because of its intimate relation with the gun and itsoperations; but I Wish it understood that I do not specifically claimsaid target herein, as it is a distinct invention; nor is this inventionlimited to this particular construction of the target.

The electrical connections are simple. w represents the nine wires orconductors connecting the eight segments a of the contact- .plate 14with the respective eight electromagnets at the target and the centraldisk I) with the bell 59 at the target. 10 is the return-wire common toall the magnets at the target and In this return-conductor w is shown,Fig. 1, the bat tery B, and in it also is a circuit-closer. (Seen inFig. 5.) This circuit-closer controls a normal break in the circuit,which is closed only when the shaft 32 is rotated, and it comprisesspring-terminals tand e in the conductor w. The terminal a; is connectedby a cord 63 with an arm 64 on the shaft 32, said cord being passedaround a stud 65 to put some friction on it. Rotation of the shaft 32closes the circuit and the pulling of the trigger breaks it.

Let us suppose that the crank 44 is operated. The effect of this is toallow the spring 20 to cock the hammer 19 to raise the point 13 from thedisk 14 and close the circuit at the terminals 1; and v. The marksmannow aims the gun as best he can at the target. As he does this the point13 moves about above the plate 14. l/Vhen he is satisfied with his aim,he pulls the trigger. The spring 23 brings the hammer up to the shoulderg on the gun and permits the point 13 to drop into contact with somepart of the plate 14. If it falls on the central part Z), the bell 59 atthe target will ring, indicating a bulls-eye. If it falls on one ofthesegments a, the magnet 60, connected electrically with that segment,willprotrude the marker 62, showing him where he has hit the target. Inorder to avoid the difficulty that would arise if the point 13 descendedon the line between two segments a, the insulating material at the linesof division is elevated into a V-shaped ridge, as seen at c in Figs. 6and 7, and the stem 13 of the point or pencil is made flexible, so thatthe rounded end of the point will be deflected to one side or the otherof the joint. In order that the circuit may not be broken at theterminals e and 1) too quickly, but remain closed long enough to enablethe magnet at the target to act and the marksman to see the marker orhear the bell, the cord 63 is wound frictionally about the stud 65, asbefore stated, so that the spring-terminals e and n will be relativelyslow in separating. It is not desired, however, to maintain the circuitclosed for more than a moment, when it will break automatically and themarker 62 be drawn back out of sight.

Ordinarily the indicator or markerw'ill contrast sharply in color withthe target. For

example, it may be black and the target white. Fig. 15 shows amodification wherein the armature-lever 61 is so fulcrumed that the diskat its end is protruded normally and is drawn back or in when the magnetis excited. In this case the disk 66 is a shield of the same color asthe target and screens a marker 62 which is fixed on the target andcontrasts in color therewith. Either of these constructions may beemployed.

It is not desirable that the play of the gun in aiming shall besufficient to allow the marksman to miss the target entirely. Thecurvature of the slot 3 in the frame will be slight, and the movementout of line in elevating said frame will not be such as to put thewheels 36 and 37 out of gear. In fact, the shaft 35, which has onebearing in the main frame 2 and another in the sliding frame 3, will beloose enough in its bearings to permit of the movement in a curve inelevating the frame 3.

It will be noted that the gun, so called, does not use any explosive orprojectile and that the hammer and trigger, so called, do not perform,of course, the normal functions of the parts so named as found in theusual target-rifle. The names have been used herein merely forconvenience, as the parts simulate the real parts. Equivalents fortheparts constructed and adapted to perform the proper and desiredfunctions may be employed as well.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A target apparatuscomprising a gun having a hammer and trigger, a spring which cooks thehammer automatically, a spring mechanism which holds the gun againstcocking, and a manually-operatable spring-distending mechanism forputting the last-named spring mechanism under tension, whereby thecocking-spring may cook the hammer.

2. A target apparatus comprising a gun with universal mountings, atarget provided with electromagnetic indicators to designate the pointaimed at by the marksman, a con tact-point which moves as the gun ismoved in aiming, and over and above a contactplate, the saidcontact-plate having insulated metal segments connected electricallywith the respective indicating devices at the target, a spring whichcocks the hammer of the gun, the latter being held at'cock by thetrigger of the gun, a spring mechanism which overcomes normally, thehammer cocking spring and which holds said contact-point out of contactwith the contact-plate, and a manually-operatable spring-distendingmechanism for putting the last-named spring mechanism under tension,whereby the cocking-spring may cock the hammer.

3. In a target apparatus, the combination with the fixed casing of thegun-stand, of the fixed guide-frame therein, the sliding frame in saidfixed frame and adapted to move upward therein in a curved path, thecounterweight for said sliding frame, the gun, the stem thereof having auniversal-joint bearing in said sliding frame, the target provided withelectromagnetic indicators, the contactplate carried by said slidingframe and its segments connected electrically with the respectiveindicators at the target, the contactpoint carried by said sliding frameand coupled to the stem of the gun for movement therewith and meansbetween the trigger of the gun and said contact-point for putting thelatter into contact with the contact-plate when the trigger of the gunis pulled, substantially as set forth.

4. In a target apparatus, the combination with the fixed'casing' of thegun-stand, of the fixed guide-frame therein, the slidingframe in saidfixed frame and adapted to move upward therein, in a curved path, thecounterweight for said sliding frame, the gun, the stem thereof having auniversal-joint bearing in said sliding frame, and the target, situatedat a distance in front of the gun equal to the radius of the curved pathin which said sliding frame moves, substantially as set forth.

5. In a target apparatus, the combination with the gun, provided with ahammer, a spring-actuated trigger, and a spring 20 to cock the hammer,the stem of the gun, and a universal mounting for said stem, of thespring 23, mechanism connecting said spring and the hammer, whereby saidspring holds the hammer against cooking, and a manuallyoperatabledistending mechanism for distending the spring 23, whereby the spring 20is permitted to cook the hammer.

6. In a target apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame, ofthe gun, the stem 5 of said gun, having a universal bearing 8 in saidframe, the said bearing, the slideblock 11 in said frame, the stem 9,loosely coupled at its upper end to the lower end of the stem 5, andhaving a universal bearing in the block 11, the said universal bearing,the lever 17, fulcrumed on the supporting-frame at 18, and coupledoperatively to the block 11 at its lower end, the arm 15, projectingfrom the stem 5 at the universal joint and engaging a slot in the upperarm of the lever 17, the contact-point 13, the spring 12 connecting itwith the stem 9, the contact-plate 14, and means for moving said pointout of contact with said plate when the gun is cocked, and into contacttherewith when the trigger is pulled, substantially as set forth.

7. In a target apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame, ofthe gun, the stem 5 of said gun, having a universal bearing 8 in saidframe, the said bearing, the slideblock 11 in said frame, the stem 9,loosely coupled at its upper end to the lower end of the stem 5, andhaving a universal bearing in the block 11, the said universal bearing,the lever 17, fulcrumed on the supportingframe at 18, and coupledoperatively to the block 11 at its lower end, the arm 15, projectingfrom the stem 5 at the universal joint and engaging a slot in the upperarm of the lever 17 the contact-point 13, connected with the stem 9, andthe contact-plate 14, under said point, substantially as set forth.

8. In an electrical target apparatus, the combination with thecontachpoint 13, having a flexible stem, of the said stem, thecontact-plate 14, divided into sections and having elevated,deflecting-ridges 6 over the joints between said sections, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an electrical target apparatus, the combination with a gun mountedon universal bearings for aiming, a contact point, means between saidgun and point compelling the latter to move relatively to the movementsof the gun in aiming, a contact-plate 14, composed of insulated metalparts a and Z), and means whereby the pulling of the trigger puts saidcontact-point into contact with said plate 14, of a target havingdivisions corresponding to those of the plate 14, and provided withelectromagnetic indicators to indicate said divisions, the saidindicators, conductors electrically connecting the several parts of theplate 14, and the contact-point with the respective indicators at thetarget, a

generator in the circuit, a circuit closer and breaker in the circuit,and means for auto- 7 matically operating said circuit closer andbreaker, said means serving to close a break in the circuit when thehammer is cocked, and to open said break a little time after the triggeris pulled, substantially as set forth.

10. In a target apparatus, the combination of the following coactinginstrumentalities, namely, a gun having a self-cocking hammer, arock-shaft 28, a disk 27 thereon, a connector 24 attached to the saiddisk at one end and to the hammer of the gun at the other end, a spring23, tending to rotate said shaft and oppose the cooking of the hammer,an upright shaft 35, geared to the shaft 28, a crank 44:, and connectingmeans between the shaft 35 and said crank whereby the latter operatessaid shaft.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 13th day ofMarch, 1900, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN L. MCOULLOUGT-L Witnesses:

PETER A. Boss, F. W. WIMAN.

